Recent studies have increasingly demonstrated that chemoresistance in ovarian cancer primarily stems from resistance to oxidative stress and ferroptosis. Ferroptosis, a non-apoptotic form of cell death dependent on intracellular iron and marked by the buildup of lipid reactive oxygen species (ROS), has shown enhanced effectiveness in triggering cell death in ovarian cancer cells. Thus, this study aimed to explore the potential of gene knockdown associated with ferroptosis as an innovative therapeutic strategy against ovarian cancer. Up-regulated genes were identified using a gene bank, and their expression levels were validated through Western blotting (WB) and quantitative PCR (qPCR). Levels of MDA, Fe2+, GSH, ROS, SQSTM1, LC3-I and LC3-II in ovarian cancer cells treated with sorafenib and subjected to gene knockout were assessed using specific kits. Expression levels of proteins related to ferroptosis were analyzed by WB. Tumor size, volume, ferroptosis and autophagy in ovarian cancer tumor tissues were also examined. IGF2BP3 was elevated in human ovarian cancer and decreased during ferroptosis induced by sorafenib in human ovarian cancer cells. IGF2BP3 knockdown inhibited ovarian cancer cell function and promoted ferroptosis, in addition to autophagy-mediated EMC2 degradation. IGF2BP3 knockdown increased ovarian cancer sensitivity to sorafenib. This study confirmed that IGF2BP3 knockdown inhibited ovarian cancer cell malignancy, promoted ferroptosis and inhibited autophagy-mediated EMC2 degradation, and verified that IGF2BP3 knockdown increased the sensitivity to sorafenib in ovarian cancer mice.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a prevalent form of primary liver cancer, commonly related to chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. As an essential enzyme in glycolysis, Enolase-1 (ENO1) is implicated in the progression of multiple types of cancer. The aim of this study was to explore the ENO1's function in HBV-associated HCC. The expression of ENO1 in HBV-HCC was determined with RT-qPCR, immunohistochemistry, and Western blot. ENO1 and HBx overexpression or knockdown was performed through transfection. EdU staining, TUNEL staining, wound healing assay, and Transwell assay were utilized to evaluate the malignant biological behavior of HBV-HCC cells. HBV replication in HBV-HCC cells was assessed by measuring HBV DNA, HBsAg, and HBV cccDNA levels. The interaction of HBx with ENO1 was analyzed by co-IP and Western blot analysis. This study showed the elevated ENO1 expression in HBV-HCC. ENO1 overexpression in HBV-HCC cells markedly enhanced proliferation, migration, invasion, and HBV replication, while significantly inhibiting apoptosis. Conversely, ENO1 silencing produced the opposite effects. HBx was found to upregulate ENO1 expression. By rescue assays, HBx silencing suppressed the malignant behavior of HBV-HCC cells, but was reversed by ENO1 overexpression. Additionally, the enhancement of HBx overexpression on the malignant behavior of HBV-HCC cells was counteracted by ENO1 silencing. HBx facilitates the malignant advancement of HBV-associated HCC by elevating ENO1 expression.

BACKGROUND Lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC) is a highly heterogeneous malignancy, with the immune micro-environment playing a critical role in tumor progression and response to therapy. However, stemness, endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and anoikis (a type of apoptosis) are not sufficiently studied in the LUSC immune micro-environment. This research aimed to explore the prognostic value of anoikis-related genes and tumor immune in the treatment of LUSC. MATERIAL AND METHODS Immune-cell fractions in LUSC samples were predicted using 3 computational algorithms: CIBERSORT, quanTseq, and SVR. The immune-cell infiltration patterns, including B cells, NK cells, neutrophils, macrophages, mast cells, and T cells, were analyzed. A prognostic nomogram was constructed using clinical variables and immune markers, and its predictive ability for overall survival at 1, 3, and 5 years was evaluated. Calibration plots, decision curve analysis, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to assess model performance. We used Python and R software to perform the analysis. P<0.05 was considered as statistically significant. RESULTS S100A7, S100A8, and SPP1 were identified from the LUSC tumor micro-environment and were used to construct a nomogram. The immune profiling revealed significant heterogeneity in immune-cell infiltration across LUSC samples, with T cells, macrophages, tregs, and dendritic cells being predominantly associated with immune suppression. The nomogram integrating clinical and immune markers demonstrated moderate predictive accuracy for overall survival. Calibration and decision curve analyses confirmed the clinical utility of the nomogram for survival prediction. CONCLUSIONS Our study presents a prognostic model of the interplay between anoikis resistance and immune-cell infiltration. Personalized immunotherapy strategies, including targeting the identified prognostic markers can improve treatment efficacy and overcome immune evasion mechanisms and can enhance clinical outcomes for LUSC patients.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), a ubiquitous human herpesvirus infecting over 90% of the adult population, is causally associated with a distinct molecular subtype of gastric cancer (GC). A key mechanism by which EBV influences tumour biology is the expression of viral microRNAs (miR/miRNA) encoded within the BamHI-A rightward transcript (BART) region, although inter-patient variability in EBV-miRNA expression and its molecular significance remain incompletely defined. In this study, small RNA sequencing was performed on 11 primary gastric tumour samples to characterise EBV-derived miRNA expression, followed by quantitative RT-PCR analysis in an extended cohort of 21 tumours for targeted validation. EBV-miRNAs were detected in a subset of tumours and showed marked inter-tumour heterogeneity in abundance. EBV-miRNA-positive tumours were dominated by a conserved set of BART miRNAs, including miR-BART19-3p, miR-BART1-5p, miR-BART10-3p, miR-BART6-3p, miR-BART13-5p, and miR-BART22. These BART miRNAs displayed correlated expression patterns, characterised by concurrent elevation of multiple viral miRNA species within the same tumour samples. To link viral miRNA expression with host molecular responses, in silico virus-host interaction analysis was conducted using ViRBase to prioritise host genes associated with the detected BART miRNAs. PTEN, BCL2L11, FOXO3, and CDKN1A were identified as high-confidence targets and selected for experimental assessment. RT-qPCR analysis demonstrated differential expression of these host genes across tumours stratified by EBV BART miRNA abundance. Together, these findings identify a consistent BART miRNA pattern within this cohort. This study provides patient-level molecular evidence linking EBV-miRNA regulatory output to host gene expression states in GC.

Background and Objectives: Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for approximately 85% of all lung cancers and remains a leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. EGFR-targeted tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) have substantially improved outcomes in EGFR-mutant NSCLC; however, primary and acquired resistance continues to limit their long-term efficacy. HER3 (receptor tyrosine-protein kinase ErbB3), a member of the ErbB receptor family, has been implicated in TKI resistance through heterodimerization with EGFR and HER2, leading to downstream PI3K/AKT pathway activation. Despite its biological plausibility as a resistance mediator, the clinical significance of HER3 expression as a prognostic and predictive biomarker in EGFR-mutant NSCLC has not been thoroughly characterized in real-world cohorts. Materials and Methods: This retrospective, single-center study included 52 patients diagnosed with EGFR-mutant NSCLC who received TKI therapy at Afyonkarahisar Health Sciences University between January 2011 and September 2023. HER3 protein expression was evaluated by immunohistochemistry (IHC) on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tumor tissue sections using the Huabio anti-HER3 antibody (clone PD00-44, 1:2000 dilution). Staining in more than 30% of tumor cells was considered HER3-positive; membranous staining intensity was scored on a 1-3 scale. Progression-free survival (PFS1, PFS2) and overall survival (OS) were analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Results: Of 52 patients (55.8% female; mean age 64.5 years), 59.6% received chemotherapy and 40.4% received an EGFR TKI as first-line treatment; erlotinib constituted 71.2% of targeted therapies. In the first-line TKI group, HER3-negative patients had a numerically longer median PFS1 compared with HER3-positive patients (14.0 vs. 7.1 months; p = 0.285); however, this difference did not reach statistical significance and should be interpreted with caution given the small sample size. In contrast, among patients receiving first-line chemotherapy, HER3 staining status did not meaningfully affect PFS1 (4.1 vs. 2.5 months; p = 0.063). In second-line treatment, HER3-positive patients who received TKI after prior chemotherapy demonstrated a PFS2 comparable to or slightly exceeding that of HER3-negative patients (21.8 vs. 19.8 months; p = 0.49), suggesting that the sequencing of chemotherapy before TKI may attenuate the adverse effect of HER3 positivity. Median OS was 15.1 months in HER3-negative patients and 12.7 months in HER3-positive patients (p = 0.824); this numerical difference of approximately 3 months did not reach statistical significance and should therefore be interpreted cautiously. Among patients receiving TKI in the first line, HER3-positive patients had a shorter median OS than HER3-negative patients (9.6 vs. 14.2 months), whereas those receiving TKI in the second line showed a trend toward longer OS in HER3-positive patients (20.5 vs. 17.2 months). Conclusions: HER3 expression was associated with reduced first-line TKI efficacy in EGFR-mutant NSCLC, suggesting a possible role for HER3 in primary TKI resistance; however, these findings are exploratory and did not reach statistical significance. The observation that HER3-positive patients who received chemotherapy before TKI demonstrated outcomes comparable to HER3-negative patients raises the hypothesis that treatment sequencing may potentially influence the impact of HER3 positivity, though this requires prospective validation before any clinical conclusions can be drawn. These results suggest that HER3 expression may warrant further investigation as a candidate biomarker for treatment sequencing decisions and as a potential therapeutic target in EGFR-mutant NSCLC. Prospective studies evaluating chemotherapy-TKI sequencing and HER3-directed agents such as patritumab deruxtecan (HER3-DXd) in HER3-positive patients are needed to confirm these preliminary observations.

Background and Objectives: Melanoma is the leading cause of skin cancer-related mortality due to its high propensity for early metastasis, although survival rates have improved with the advent of targeted and immune-based therapies. Accurate detection of targetable mutations and assessment of tumor mutational burden are essential for informed therapeutic decision-making. Mutation profiling is routinely performed using next-generation sequencing (NGS). The Oncomine Focus Assay (OFA) detects common alterations in 52 genes across various tumor entities, whereas MelArray is a melanoma-specific NGS panel covering mutations in 190 melanoma-relevant genes and providing a genome-wide copy number analysis. Moreover, tumor mutational burden is being assessed. Materials and Methods: In this retrospective study, we analyzed the phenotypic characteristics of 100 patients with cutaneous melanoma who underwent NGS testing using either OFA or MelArray. The aims were to compare the diagnostic yield of the two panels and to investigate potential associations between mutational profiles and clinicopathological features of melanoma. Results: Tumor location, ulceration, and Breslow thickness showed significant correlations with the melanoma subtypes. BRAF mutations were the most frequent driver alterations across all cutaneous melanoma subtypes; however, no significant correlation between specific driver mutations and phenotypic characteristics was identified. MelArray detected a notably high number of alterations in the TERT promoter and CDKN2A genes, which were not captured by OFA and are of potential therapeutic relevance. Conclusions: In conclusion, MelArray enables a more comprehensive molecular characterization of cutaneous melanoma compared with a small generic cancer panel and may support more personalized therapeutic decision-making.

Background and Objectives: Reliable tools for evaluating tumor biology and forecasting clinical outcomes in recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain scarce, and molecular characterization through genetic profiling is equally limited in this setting. This investigation explores whether serum tumor marker expression patterns correlate with genomic mutation profiles, and whether such correlations may facilitate more accurate prediction of tumor biology and patient prognosis in recurrent HCC. Materials and Methods: We analyzed a cohort of 20 patients who underwent curative-intent resection for both primary and recurrent HCC. Tumor specimens collected at the time of each operation were subjected to targeted next-generation sequencing for mutation profiling. Based on pre-operative serum levels of AFP (alpha-fetoprotein) and PIVKA-II (Protein Induced by Vitamin K Absence or Antagonist-II) measured before each surgery, patients were stratified into four biomarker subgroups. Those who maintained the same biomarker subgroup at both operations were designated the 'serum concordant group', whereas those who transitioned between subgroups were classified as the 'serum discordant group'. Clinical characteristics and mutation data were subsequently compared between these two classifications. Results: The interval from primary surgery to disease recurrence was significantly shorter in the serum concordant group relative to the serum discordant group (mean 11.16 ± 1.86 vs. 44.8 ± 9.45 months, p < 0.001). Additionally, disease-free survival following reoperation was significantly inferior in the concordant group compared with the discordant group (p = 0.039). Regarding mutational patterns, the concordant group demonstrated shared gene mutations between primary and recurrent lesions, while the discordant group exhibited divergent mutational landscapes across both timepoints. Conclusions: The concordance or discordance of serum tumor marker profiles between primary and recurrent HCC lesions may serve as a clinically accessible surrogate for underlying tumor biology and prognostic stratification. These results are preliminary and hypothesis-generating. Further studies in larger, independent cohorts are warranted to confirm the observed associations.

Background/Objectives: There is a clear need for more options to control the progression of breast cancer and prevent the occurrence of breast cancer in minority populations that have a higher rate of mortality due to triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) subtypes. Prevalent nutraceuticals such as Ashwagandha (also known as the Indian Winter Cherry) have anti-inflammatory and apoptotic capabilities, as well as the ability to inhibit cancer growth. The purpose of this study is to analyze the novel combination of withaferin A (derived from the Indian Winter Cherry and known to have histone deacetylase inhibition capabilities) and sodium butyrate (a short-chain fatty acid produced from the gut microbiome and known to have DNA methyltransferase inhibition capabilities) treatment on breast cancer-derived cell lines. There is a scientific gap of possible causality of decreasing breast cancer progression when treated with sodium butyrate and withaferin A. Methods: Two in vitro cell viability assays were utilized consisting of [MTT (4,5 Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)] and the neutral red assay to analyze the impact of treatment of compounds alone and in combination on breast cancer cells for 72 h. The Highest Single Agent (HSA) combination analysis was utilized to derive combination indexes for our breast cancer cell types. Protein and gene expression was investigated for Class 1 histone deacetylases, de novo DNA methyltransferase, the p65 subunit of NF-κB, and NFκB1. Lastly, DNA methyltransferase enzymatic activity was analyzed via the Epigentek DNMT Activity/Inhibition ELISA Easy Kit. Results: Through the cell viability assay [MTT (4,5 Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)], MCF-7, MDA-MB-231, and MDA-MB-157 cells were found to have a decrease in cell viability due to combinatorial treatment with withaferin A and sodium butyrate. Western blot results depicted a decrease in protein expression levels for DNA methyltransferases due to the administration of 2.5 mM sodium butyrate and 0.2 µM withaferin A alone and in combination for breast cancer cell lines MCF-7, MDA-MB-231, and MDA-MB-157. Additionally, the combination of these two components have successfully inhibited the progression of the NFκB1 gene within analysis through the quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Conclusions: The novel combination of withaferin A and sodium butyrate have markedly reduced the progression of breast cancer-derived cell lines for cell viability, epigenetic DNMT gene expression, as well as inhibiting NFκB1 signaling on the gene expression level.

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells with intact homologous recombination (HR) repair mechanism can survive treatment with Olaparib, which further limits the clinical application of PARP1/2 inhibitors. Previous studies have demonstrated that inhibition of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) can enhance the sensitivity of human tumor cells to PARP1/2 inhibitors. However, the mechanisms underlying their synergistic effects in the treatment of TNBC remain unclear. Herein, we demonstrate that the combination of Olaparib and Epacadostat significantly reduces the proliferation of BRCA-proficient MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-468 cells compared to either monotherapy. Mechanistically, Epacadostat reduces intracellular kynurenine and NAD+ levels, thereby sensitizing TNBCs to PARP1/2 inhibition and significantly amplifying Olaparib-induced DNA damage. Furthermore, Epacadostat and Olaparib synergistically increase cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), leading to DNA oxidative damage and apoptosis. In vivo, Epacadostat and Olaparib significantly suppressed MDA-MB-468 tumor growth compared to the monotherapy groups, while promoting an increase in phosphorylated H2AX. Notably, the dual inhibition of IDO1 and PARP1/2 specifically reduced the expression of HR core genes and proteins, such as BRCA1 and RAD51, which may contribute to impaired DNA-damage repair and increased sensitivity to Olaparib. In summary, targeting both IDO1 and PARP1/2 represents a promising combination therapy for BRCA-proficient TNBC.

Background/Objectives: Programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) is often overexpressed in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), where it helps the tumor evade the immune system and promotes tumor growth. Interleukin-24 (IL-24) is recognized for its anti-tumor activity, although its role in immune regulation remains unclear. In this study, we examined the role of IL-24 in regulating PD-L1 and its anti-cancer activity in TNBC cells.

Inflammatory and nested testicular sex cord tumor (IN-TSCT) is a recently characterized malignant neoplasm within the spectrum of testicular sex cord-stromal tumors. Previously misclassified as Sertoli cell tumor, not otherwise specified, or as seminoma, this entity has emerged as a distinct clinicopathologic and molecular subtype defined by recurrent EWSR1::ATF1 gene fusions and a potentially aggressive clinical course. Patients most commonly present with unilateral painless testicular enlargement, and radiologic findings are typically nonspecific. Histologically, tumors demonstrate solid and nested growth patterns, epithelioid cytology with eosinophilic to clear cytoplasm, prominent hyalinized stroma, and a conspicuous inflammatory infiltrate. Immunophenotypically, tumors express sex cord-stromal markers, including steroidogenic factor-1 (SF-1) and inhibin, and frequently co-express epithelial membrane antigen and CD30 while lacking germ cell tumor markers. Molecular studies indicate fusion-driven oncogenesis associated with low tumor mutational burden. Published cases suggest that IN-TSCT may exhibit aggressive clinical behavior, including metastatic spread in a subset of patients; however, the total number of reported cases remains very limited, and the true metastatic risk and prognostic spectrum have not yet been clearly defined. This review synthesizes the available literature to provide a comprehensive clinicopathologic and molecular overview of this emerging tumor entity.

Background/Objective: Although most melanocytic lesions are diagnosed as benign or malignant by histopathologic evaluation, with or without the aid of immunohistochemistry, diagnosis may remain uncertain in a minority of cases. Assessment of copy number abnormalities (CNAs) may provide sufficient additional evidence to favor either a benign or malignant diagnosis in both pediatric and adult cases and in melanocytic lesions of various subtypes, including Spitzoid, mucosal, and acral. CNAs are common in melanomas, while they are rare, with few exceptions, in benign lesions. Detection of CNAs by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and chromosomal microarray (CMA) has been well established for melanocytic lesions, with advantages and disadvantages for each. The objective of this meta-analysis was to evaluate the utility of CNA testing for the diagnosis of melanoma, across subtypes, when a lesion remains ambiguous after histopathologic and immunohistochemical assessment. In addition, the utility of CNAs to determine prognosis in established diagnoses of melanoma was also evaluated. Methods: The Cancer Genomics Consortium Working Group for Melanocytic Lesions reviewed published data from January 1998 through September 2022 of CNAs in melanocytic lesions detected by either FISH or CMA and conducted a meta-analysis of the findings. Results: Specific abnormalities common in primary cutaneous melanomas of various subtypes and uveal melanomas were enumerated. Differences in CNAs found in primary versus metastatic lesions were also determined, and published evidence for prognosis was summarized. Conclusions: The working group established evidence-based recommendations for the use of CNA testing for evaluation of ambiguous melanocytic lesions.

Soft-tissue sarcomas (STSs) comprise a rare, heterogeneous group of mesenchymal malignancies in which histologic grade remains the strongest determinant of outcome, metastatic risk, and therapeutic strategy. Intermediate/high-grade STSs exhibit a pronounced propensity for early distant relapse, yet growing evidence indicates that metastatic behaviour is not uniform. Within this spectrum, an oligometastatic phenotype, characterised by a limited number of metastases, often confined to the lung, has emerged as a clinically and biologically distinct state associated with more indolent metastatic kinetics and improved survival when treated with aggressive local interventions. However, the criteria that define true oligometastatic STSs remain unsettled, and prospective evidence is lacking. Emerging molecular and immunological correlates provide a potential framework for biological triage. Low genomic complexity (low-risk CINSARC), a B-cell/TLS-rich tumour microenvironment, high immune-cytotoxic signatures, and persistently low or undetectable circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) are each linked to reduced metastatic competence and may underpin oligometastatic trajectories. Conversely, high chromosomal instability, immunosuppressive microenvironments, and elevated ctDNA levels align with covertly polymetastatic biology despite limited radiographic disease. In this context, artificial intelligence and machinelearning approaches applied to computational genomics, immune profiling, imaging, and liquid-biopsy data offer a powerful strategy to integrate these multi-dimensional features and refine predictions of metastatic behaviour in STS. Oligometastatic STS therefore represents a biologically definable subset amenable to multimodal management integrating local ablative therapies, systemic agents, and immune-based strategies. Prospective, biomarker-stratified trials are needed to validate selection frameworks and optimise treatment sequencing in this evolving therapeutic space.

Background: HER2-low breast cancer is a biologically heterogeneous subgroup in which hormone receptor (HR) expression critically shapes prognosis and treatment, but the underlying regulatory mechanisms remain unclear. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are key post-transcriptional regulators of gene expression and may contribute to HR heterogeneity. This study aimed to identify deregulated miRNAs and associated gene networks distinguishing HER2-low/HR-positive from HER2-low/HR-negative tumors, elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying this divergence. Methods: Differential expression analyses of miRNAs and genes were performed using Wilcoxon tests and DESeq2 (|log2FC| > 1; FDR-adjusted p-value < 0.05). Survival analyses were conducted using Cox proportional hazards models to evaluate the individual miRNAs and miRNA signature. Functional enrichment analyses, including GO, KEGG and Reactome pathways, were performed. Correlation analysis and the miRNA target prediction were integrated to identify regulatory interactions. Results: Comparisons between HER2-low/HR-positive and HER2-low/HR-negative tumors identified 165 significantly deregulated miRNAs and 170 strongly deregulated genes. Intersection analysis highlighted miR-9-5p, miR-532-5p and miR-576-5p as specifically associated with HR-negative status. Survival analyses showed non-significant trends for the overall survival and progression-free interval. Functional enrichment analysis revealed hormone-related pathways in HR-positive tumors and immune, inflammatory and proliferative pathways in HR-negative tumors. Integrative correlation and target prediction analyses identified two miRNA-mRNA regulatory axes, miR-576-5p/TGFBI and miR-9-5p/POU2F2. Conclusions: Our study demonstrated that HER2-low breast cancer exhibits distinct miRNA and gene expression profiles, which highlight different transcriptomic profiles according to HR status for the first time. Specific miRNA-gene networks may drive transcriptional heterogeneity, serving as potential biomarkers for stratification and as therapeutic targets. These findings provide insight into the molecular basis of HER2-low tumor diversity and support future development of HR-directed therapeutic strategies.

Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) are conserved in the genome of cells across the three domains of life. They comprise a diverse group that are particularly prominent in metazoans where they provide a crucial interface between genes and proteins, participating in key cellular processes at different levels: from control of DNA transcription to modulation of messenger RNA stability to modification of protein activity. The interactions of ncRNAs with one another as well as with other RNAs, DNA and proteins form the basis of a genome-wide regulatory network (GRN). Because of the mutual influence of its components on each other, the GRN is a dynamic system. Further, the GRN imposes constraints on which genes are expressed and when, leading to specific gene-expression patterns or transcriptomes. The configurations of the activities of all gene loci represent self-stabilizing cell states, referred to as "attractor" states, each of which corresponds to a distinct cell type. The cancer cell is also an attractor state that arises from a change in the topography of the epigenetic landscape caused by dysregulation of the GRN. It is proposed that the transition to a neoplastic attractor state is caused by ncRNA alterations, while subsequent somatic mutations of oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes drive cell proliferation and clonal expansion.

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a biologically heterogeneous hematologic malignancy arising from the oncogenic transformation of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells, resulting in clonal expansion and progressive subclonal diversification. Although considerable advances have deepened our understanding of AML pathogenesis, major challenges persist, particularly regarding relapses and therapeutic resistance. In recent years, exosomes-extracellular vesicles of 30-150 nm in diameter of endosomal origin-have emerged as critical mediators of intercellular communication within the AML tumor microenvironment. These vesicles transport a diverse cargo of proteins, metabolites, and nucleic acids, including mRNA, non-coding RNA species, and DNA, which is selectively packaged during their biogenesis. Circulating exosomes have garnered attention as promising liquid biomarkers for diagnosis, prognosis, and monitoring minimal residual disease, while also representing potential therapeutic targets or delivery platforms. Nonetheless, significant knowledge gaps remain regarding the mechanisms governing exosome biogenesis, cargo selection, and the functional impact on leukemia progression and immune modulation. This review focuses on the role of exosomes in acute myeloid leukemia, with an emphasis on the molecular mechanisms underlying their involvement in pathogenesis, tumor communication, and resistance to therapies, as well as their potential as diagnostic biomarkers.

CDKN2A (p16^INK4a^) is integral to the regulation of the RB-E2F cell-cycle checkpoint and is widely acknowledged as a surrogate marker for high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV)-related cervical neoplasia. Nevertheless, its diagnostic and prognostic significance in uterine corpus endometrial carcinoma (UCEC), a predominantly HPV-independent malignancy, remains inadequately characterized. This study utilized an integrated multi-omics approach to examine CDKN2A dysregulation in cervical squamous cell carcinoma (CESC) and UCEC.

Background: The turnaround of the tumor suppressor p53 protein, the guardian of the genome, is closely regulated to ensure avoidance of its untimely activation, which could lead to the demise of normal cells. Cancer cells often display mutations in the gene TP53 encoding for p53, which interferes with its normal function. Methods: The genomic series of colorectal cancer from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) was interrogated to discover genomic alterations and determine the mRNA expression of enzymes affecting p53 ubiquitination in colorectal cancers with wild-type and mutant TP53. Results: Genomic alterations of p53-regulating E3 ubiquitin ligases were uncommon in colorectal cancers, the most frequent being mutations in RCHY1. Several p53-regulating E3 ligases were well expressed in subsets of colorectal cancers, two of which, MDM2 and TRIM24, displayed higher mRNA expressions than the normal colorectal epithelia. The former was particularly upregulated in TP53 wild-type colorectal cancers, and the latter was upregulated in both wild-type and mutant TP53 cancers. Upregulation of TRIM24 in TP53 mutant cancers was observed independently of the type of mutations (gain-of-function or other). Among E3 ligases used in proteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTACs), VHL was upregulated together with its E2-conjugating enzyme UBE2S in colorectal cancers. Conclusions: This survey of p53-targeting ubiquitin ligases provides a roadmap for potential therapeutic strategies working by promoting the destruction of the mutant protein or reactivating its normal function in TP53-mutated colorectal cancers and promoting p53 function by preventing degradation in TP53 wild-type cancers.

To analyze the association between the IRF5 gene variants rs3807135, rs3757385, and rs3778754 and mRNA expression levels in patients from western Mexico diagnosed with melanoma.

Background: Tamoxifen remains the cornerstone of endocrine therapy for hormone receptor-positive breast cancer across Africa. Understanding the factors that influence tamoxifen tolerability is critical, as treatment-related side effects can reduce adherence and compromise therapeutic outcomes. Yet, the contribution of pharmacogenetic variation to tamoxifen-related toxicity remains poorly characterized in African populations. This study, therefore, investigated whether genetic variation in key pharmacogenes influences the risk of treatment-related side effects in a South African breast cancer cohort. Methods: A total of 166 women of Mixed and African Ancestry treated with 20 mg/day tamoxifen at Groote Schuur Hospital, South Africa, were included in the study. Genetic variation across 28 variants in nine pharmacogenes, including CYP2D6, CYP3A4/5, UGT1A4, UGT2B7/15, SULT1A1/2, and SULT1E1, was assessed using various genotyping methods. Associations between genetic and non-genetic factors and tamoxifen side effects were evaluated with logistic regression. Results: Over 70% of participants reported at least one treatment-related side effect. Overall side-effect burden was associated with SULT1A1 copy number variation (p = 0.030) and SULT1E1 rs3736599 (p = 0.042). Musculoskeletal complaints were the most common (40%) and were associated with UGT2B7 rs7439366 (p = 0.040) and CYP3A4 rs2242480 (p = 0.051). Gynecological symptoms affected more than 20% of participants and were linked to SULT1A2*2 (p = 0.050), SULT1E1 rs3736599 (p = 0.016), and UGT2B15 rs4148269 (p = 0.039). Hot flashes were frequent, affecting 33% of patients, but showed no clear pharmacogenetic associations. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that pharmacogenetic variation is associated with interindividual differences in treatment-related side effects, underscoring the need to expand research in African populations to better inform precision endocrine therapy.